Rain-skirt.



L. P. SUDDIOK.

RAIN SKIRT.

APPLIOA TION FILED OGT.15,1909.

Patented July 25, 1911.

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L. P. SUDDIGK.

RAIN SKIRT. APPLICATION FILED 001.15, 1909.

999,1 32. Patented July 25, 1911.

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LOUISE F. SUDDICK, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

RAIN-SKIRT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 15, 1909.

Patented July 25, 1911.

Serial No. 522,861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUISE F. SUDDIoK, citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rain-Skirts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices which is intended for the protection of womens skirts, and especially the bottom part of the dress skirt, and the under-skirts from rain, snow and slush of the streets, and consists of two skirts, an inner and an outer skirt, made separate, but united at their bottoms, the outer skirt to be made of rubber gossamer, water-proof, oiled silk, cravenette, or any other material that easily resists moisture; the inner skirt to be made preferably of some light thin material that will not add undue warmth to the wearer, and is faced upward from the bottom for several inches with the same material of which the outer skirt is made, or with any other moisture-resisting material. Various devices of this nature have been invented, but have not been brought into use owing to the impracticability of the same, such as coats having detachable underskirts, and even two separate skirts have been employed, an outer skirt and an underskirt, but which have been detachably united at their lower edges, whereby water, mud and the like is admitted to the skirts of the wearer and therefore the objectfor which the protector was intended is defeated. Other devices of this nature have been formed which are decidedly at fault and could not be worn on account of their multiplicity of parts which produces a bulky set of skirts, giving the wearer an odd appearance and making an uncomfortable garment. Then too, a pair of skirts, an inner skirt and an outer skirt, have been employed, which carry a portion of rain-proof material at their lower edges to form a pocket for the skirts of the wearer. This latter form has proved impracticable in that the joining of the two materials detracts from the appearance of the garment and affords no protection to the skirts from rain which quickly passes through the outer skirt.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the fol lowing description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved protector in position; Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the upper end of the same detached; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a skirt which is formed in the usual manner with a supporting band 11 and a suitable placket or closure 12 which is preferably disposed at one side of the skirt. The lower end of the outer skirt 10 is folded upwardly and inwardly in spaced relation to the inner face thereof to form a pocket for the reception of the underskirts, as best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The inner skirt 14 is of less length than the outer skirt 10 and is preferably formed at its upper end with flexible strips 15. A facing 13 is sewed or otherwise permanently secured to the skirts 10 and 14 to prevent excessive wear on the parts. The strips 15 are longitudinally extended from the skirt 14 and are reinforced by circumferential strips 16 for holding the strips 15 in spaced relation. A band 17 of common form is secured to the upper ends of the strips 15 for supporting the same from the waist of the wearer. The inner skirt 14 is provided with a closure or placket 18 which is disposed preferably at the back of the band 17 so as to be in offset relation to the closure 12. The outer skirt 10 should be made a little larger in circumference than the inner skirt, in order to take up and accommodate the fullness of the clothing which it is meant to inclose and protect, and this extra length of circumference is disposed of by slightly gathering the outer skirt 10 at the bottom where the two skirts are sewed together, as is disclosed to advantage at 10 in Fig. 3. This double skirt is intended to be worn over and under all the other skirtsthat is, the inner skirt 14 under, and the outer skirt 10 over, both under-skirts and the top or dress skirt, all the latter being inclosed within or between the surfaces ofthe inner and outer skirts. The inner skirt 14 is fastened preferably at the back, and the outer skirt 10 preferably at the side, the plackets 12 and 18 being of sufiicient depth, the placket 12 of the outer skirt 1O overlapping, and being secured with convenient fastenings,

The skirts 10 and 1st being sewed together and non-detachable, are more easily and quickly put on and off than if they were secured together with hooks, buttons, or other devices near or at the bottom, which have to be fastened together after the skirt is put on and unfastened before it is taken off; besides, in the latter arrangement there is always more or less danger of catching the shoes against or between the fastenings in entering or leaving a car, or in stepping to or from the curbing.

It will be noted that this invention is a more satisfactory garment than if it were attached toacoat or gossamer, as the wearer often requires a protection for her skirts when the weather is too warm to admit of wearing a rain-coat. hen a protect-ion other than an umbrella is needed for the upper part of the body, any separate Wrap may be used.

It will be noted that the purpose of this rain-skirt is to protect both the outer and inner surfaces of womens skirts from rain and snow, and from the mud and slush of the streets. It can be made of a fine, lightweight material, or of a heavier material, as desired to meet its varied requirements, and the material or fabric may be of an eX- pensive or inexpensive grade; and it is designed for those whose avocations require them to go out in all kinds of weather, as well as for those who like to take a voluntary walk, ride or drive in the rain, and for the protection of evening dress no less than street dress.

The skirt is put on after the wearer is dressed in her ordinary street or evening clothes. To put the skirt on z-Place the bands of the two skirts together at the center of the front and see that the belt and placket fastenings are loosened. Then catch up this double skirt and put it on over the head, the same as if putting on a dress, and let it drop down to the feet. Then take up the inner skirt in the hands and draw it up under all the clothing, and fasten at the back about the waist and under all the other skirts, as is disclosed in Fig. 1. After this is done, let the clothing drop down and fold said clothing loosely about the inner skirt and draw the outer rainskirt up over all the clothing, smoothing the clothes down carefully between the inner and outer surfaces of the rain-skirt. Lastly, fasten the outer skirt at the side, and if any unevenness or excess of fullness remains at any point, a little further adjusting will remedy the same. If the skirt is properly adjusted, there will be little or no bulging or protruding at the bottom, and the fit and hang of the protector will be that of an ordinary skirt. The inner skirt 1 1 is made of some light, thin fabric which will add very little to either the weight or warmth of the rain-skirt, and is preferably made from a point about ten or twelve inches below the waist, upward of the narrow tapes 15 and 16, or thin strips of cotton or linen cloth, with spaces or meshes between, and joined securely at their points of contact, the whole being a part of the inner skirt and undetachable. This mesh-like upper portion tapers gradually toward the waist. This arrangement obviates any excess of warmth about the hips that might result from a skirt made of solid material. Gingham of an open weave and light texture is also believed to be suitable material for this inner skirt.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A garment protector comprising an outer skirt having a placket and formed of a continuous strip of water proof material, the upper edge of which is provided with a waist band and the lower edge thereof folded inwardly and upwardly in spaced relation to the inner face thereof to provide a garment receiving pocket, an inner cloth skirt of thin material and of less length than the outer skirt permanently secured to the lower edge of the material constituting the outer skirt at said pocket, an inner waist band having a placket arranged at right angles to the placket of the outer skirt, and an open mesh yoke secured to the inner waist band and upper edge of said inner skirt, respectively, and formed of intersecting strips, the outer skirt being practically seamless and devoid of surface projections. In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUISE F. SUDDICK. [Ls] WVitnesses HARRY A. CLowE, D. H. THOMAS.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

